Mounting and Attachment Assembly for Firearm Muzzle Accessories

ABSTRACT

An accessory mounting system for a firearm is provided. The system can include a connection mechanism on a barrel of the firearm for connecting the barrel to a muzzle accessory, and a protection mechanism having sleeve that is integrated with and movable about the muzzle end of the barrel between an extended position at least partially covering the connection mechanism and a retracted position at least partially exposing the connection mechanism. When the sleeve is in its retracted position and the muzzle accessory is attached to the barrel, at least a portion of the sleeve can engage the muzzle accessory to provide a partially tensioned connection and substantially prevent the muzzle accessory from inadvertent loosening or disconnection during use of the firearm. Other aspects are also described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/563,223, filed Sep. 26, 2017.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/563,223, which was filed Sep. 26, 2017, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is, in one aspect, drawn to firearms, and in particular, to systems and methods for mounting muzzle accessories to a firearm barrel.

BACKGROUND

Firearm muzzle accessories (e.g., silencers, muzzle brakes, flash hiders, etc.), typically are coupled to the muzzle end of a host firearm barrel using a threaded attachment mechanism. Threaded attachment mechanisms commonly employ screw threads that often can have sharp ridges or peaks that may pose potential problems. For example, such sharp peaks of the threads may be susceptible to damage, such as from the firearm being dropped or other inadvertent acts resulting in the threads coming into contact with a hard surface. Also, dirt and debris can collect between the threads. Such damaged or fouled threads can be difficult to repair and may impair the connection of an accessory to the barrel, or even render the firearm incapable of accepting or connecting to muzzle accessories. In the past, detachable members with internal threads that simply thread onto and over the exposed muzzle threads of the barrel have been used to protect the muzzle threads when a muzzle accessory is not installed. Such protectors, however, are not always handy or easy to quickly remove and attach. At times, these protectors potentially require tools to facilitate their removal, and may become easily misplaced when not attached to the barrel. Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists to address these and other related, and unrelated, problems in the art.

SUMMARY

Briefly described, the present disclosure is directed to, in one aspect, a mounting and attachment system/assembly for mounting firearm muzzle accessories, such as silencers, flash hiders, muzzle brakes, adapters, blast shields, etc., to the barrel of a firearm. The mounting and attachment assembly generally will be mounted at the muzzle or distal end of the barrel. The barrel generally will include an elongated body having an internal bore and a proximal or breech end opposite the muzzle end thereof. The barrel also typically will have a connection mechanism (e.g., one or more threads or other engagement portions), disposed along the muzzle end thereof. The connection mechanism may be configured to matably engage with a corresponding connection mechanism of a muzzle accessory, such as one or more corresponding threads or other engagement portions.

The mounting and attachment assembly further will include a protection mechanism that can be movable along and/or substantially integrated with the barrel. For example, the protection mechanism may include a biased sleeve integrated with and movable along or about the muzzle end of the barrel. The sleeve can be biased towards a forward, extended position under the force of a biasing member (e.g., one or more springs or other biasing element or elements) received about or adjacent the muzzle end of the barrel. The sleeve further can be moved in a rearward direction to a rearward, retracted position, as the biasing force acting thereon is overcome, such that the muzzle threads will be exposed/revealed and ready to accept the threaded portion of the muzzle accessory, and the sleeve can be maintained in such a position by the muzzle accessory attached to the barrel. Upon removal of the muzzle accessory, the sleeve may be returned to its extended or forward position, for example, under biasing force of the spring, to at least partially cover or conceal the muzzle threads to provide substantial protection therefor.

The sleeve further generally can be dimensioned to substantially cover, without necessarily engaging, the threads of the barrel in a manner sufficient to enable freedom of movement of the sleeve, while also generally blocking/retarding entry of dirt and debris between the threads and sleeve, and to prevent damage to the muzzle threads if/when the muzzle end of the barrel comes into contact with a hard surface. Additionally, with the sleeve in its retracted position and a muzzle accessory attached to the barrel, at least a portion of the sleeve (e.g., its forward face or rim) may contact or otherwise engage a rear end portion or face of the muzzle accessory, such that the force of the spring is transmitted through the sleeve and against the muzzle accessory to further provide at least a partially tensioned connection, which also may help substantially prevent the muzzle accessory from becoming inadvertently unscrewed, loosened, or disconnected during use of the firearm.

Various features, objects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be understood that the drawings accompanying the present disclosure, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate various aspects, features, advantages and benefits of the present disclosure, and together with the following detailed description, serve to explain the principals of the present disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that, accordingly, in practice, various features of the drawings discussed herein are not necessarily drawn to scale, and that dimensions of various features and elements shown or illustrated in the drawings and/or discussed in the following Detailed Description may be expanded, reduced or moved to an exploded position in order to more clearly illustrate the principles and embodiments of the present disclosure as set forth herein.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a firearm with a muzzle accessory mounting and attachment assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows the muzzle accessory mounting and attachment assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure, including a front sight on the protection mechanism, with the protection mechanism in the forward, extended position that at least partially enshrouds and protects the muzzle threads.

FIG. 3 shows the mounting and attachment assembly of FIGS. 1-2, with the protection mechanism in the rearward, retracted position, pulled back against the force of the spring to at least partially reveal the muzzle threads.

FIG. 4 shows the mounting and attachment system of FIGS. 1-3, with a muzzle accessory, e.g., a silencer, installed on the muzzle threads and the forward face of the protection mechanism pressing against the rear portion of the muzzle accessory under force from the spring.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the mounting and attachment assembly of FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 shows a cutaway view of the mounting and attachment assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure, with the protection mechanism in the forward, extended position that at least partially enshrouds and protects the muzzle threads.

FIG. 7 shows a cutaway view of the mounting and attachment system according to principles of the present disclosure, with the protection mechanism in the retracted position, pulled back against the force of the spring to at least partially reveal the muzzle threads.

FIG. 8 shows a mounting and attachment assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure, which does not include a front sight.

FIG. 9 shows a cutaway view of the mounting and attachment assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a mounting and attachment assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure, where the protection mechanism is constructed to resemble a flash hider.

FIG. 11 shows a mounting and attachment assembly of FIG. 10, where the sleeve is in its rearward, retracted position, pulled back against the force of the spring to reveal the muzzle threads.

FIG. 12 shows a mounting and attachment assembly according to a one aspect of the present disclosure, with a locking or alignment section or portion.

FIG. 13 illustrates a mounting and attachment assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure, including a locking geometry arranged about a forward end of the protection mechanism.

FIG. 14 shows a muzzle brake attached to the muzzle accessory and mounting system, with the protection mechanism generally shown in a rearward, retracted position.

FIG. 15 shows a muzzle brake attached to the muzzle accessory and mounting system, with the protection mechanism generally shown in an extended, covering position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, as shown in FIGS. 1-15, the present disclosure generally relates to a mounting and attachment assembly or system 2 for mounting firearm muzzle accessories, such as a silencers, flash hiders, muzzle brakes, adapters, blast shields, etc., to a firearm F (FIG. 1). The accessory mounting and attachment assembly 2 of the present disclosure further generally provides a protected connector construction that can be integrated with and/or can include part of a firearm barrel assembly 6, and that can be used with firearms F including, but are limited to, rifles, such as an M4 or AR-style rifles (such as shown in one example in FIG. 1), and/or other types of long guns; although various other types of firearms, including pistols or handguns also can be used without departing from this disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a firearm F including an accessory mounting and attachment assembly 2 according to one aspect of the present disclosure. The firearm F, as shown, includes a receiver 4 and a barrel assembly 6 mounted to the receiver 4 at a front end 4 a thereof. The barrel assembly 6 includes a barrel 8 defining a chamber 10 proximate to a location where the barrel assembly 6 connects to the receiver 4. The chamber 10 generally will be sized and/or configured to receive a round of ammunition A for firing from the firearm F. A bolt assembly 12 is slidably received along the receiver 4 for operation of the firearm F. A magazine 13 is connected to the receiver 4 for supplying/feeding rounds of ammunition A toward and into the chamber 10. After firing of the firearm F, the bolt assembly 12 may be cycled for ejecting a spent cartridge case and stripping a next round from the magazine and loading it into the chamber 10. The bolt assembly 12 additionally, or in the alternative, can be manually operated such as by manipulating a handle 14 or other suitable mechanism or member attached thereto, to manually slide or move the bolt assembly 12 along the receiver 4 for loading of rounds A into the chamber 10. A fire control 15 also is mounted along the receiver 4, and generally will include a trigger 16 for controlling firing of the firearm F. The firearm F further can have a butt stock assembly 18 mounted along/connected to a rear end 4 b of the receiver 4 as generally shown in FIG. 1.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the barrel 8 generally has an elongated body 20 with a rearward, breech, or proximal end 20 a at which the chamber 10 is formed; a forward, distal, or muzzle end 20 b; and a bore or passage 22 defined through the body and which is sized, dimensioned, and/or configured to allow for the passage of projectiles fired from the firearm F through the barrel to its muzzle end for discharge from the barrel 8. The proximal end 20 a of the barrel body 20 may have one or more connection mechanisms provided therealong configured to facilitate attachment of the barrel 8 to the receiver 4 of the firearm F. For example, the connection mechanism(s) (not shown) can include one or more threaded portions that are configured to matably engage with one or corresponding threaded portions of the receiver. The barrel assembly 6 also can include a barrel extension (not shown), with the one or more threaded portions on the barrel also being configured to matably engage with one or more threaded portions of the barrel extension, or other suitable mechanism, to facilitate attachment of the barrel to the receiver. The barrel assembly 6 further can include a barrel nut or other suitable attachment mechanism that also can be used to couple the barrel or the barrel extension to the receiver of the firearm, without departing from the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2-15 show the mounting and attachment system 2 generally being located at or adjacent the muzzle end 20 b of the barrel body 20. As shown in FIGS. 5-7, 9, and 12, the muzzle end 20 b of the barrel body 20 may include a reduced diameter section 24, with a connection mechanism 26, such as one or more threaded portions 28 or similar connectors being disposed about the muzzle end of the barrel. The connection mechanism 26 generally will be configured to matably engage with a corresponding connection mechanism (not shown), such as one or more corresponding threaded portions, of a muzzle accessory 36 for enabling quick attachment and/or detaching of the muzzle accessory 36 to the barrel.

An example of a muzzle accessory 36 can include a silencer such as generally shown in FIG. 4; however, the present disclosure is not to be limited thereby, and it will be understood that any type of muzzle accessory including flash hiders, muzzle breaks, blast shields, blast jackets, or other suitable suppressors or muzzle accessories can be used. In addition, in one example, the threaded portions of the mounting and attachment system and the muzzle accessory can include any suitable threads (e.g., “V” shaped threads or the like) and/or other suitable connection mechanisms without departing from this disclosure.

FIGS. 6-7 and 9 also show the reduced diameter section 24 can include an annular shoulder or face 38 disposed thereabout. The shoulder or face 38 can be transverse (e.g., substantially normal or perpendicular to a longitudinal axis LA of the barrel 8), and can be positioned at a location forward of and substantially adjacent or substantially proximate to the connection mechanism 26. As a result, at least a portion, for example, a rear portion or face 39, of the muzzle accessory 36 can substantially abut, contact, or otherwise engage the shoulder or face 32 upon connection of the muzzle accessory to the barrel. The reduced diameter section 24 also can be otherwise configured or constructed, however, without departing from the present disclosure. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, the reduced diameter section 24 can have a locking or alignment section or portion 138 arranged substantially proximate or substantially adjacent to the connection mechanism 26.

At least part of the locking section or portion 138 can have a frustroconical or partial conical shape/configuration with one or more surfaces 139 that are tapered or angled with respect to the longitudinal axis LA of the barrel (FIG. 12). The tapered/angled surface(s) 139 can at least partially contact or otherwise engage at least a portion (e.g., an interior portion or surface) of the muzzle accessory 36 to facilitate self-locking or self-alignment of the muzzle accessory 36 as it is tightened against the connection mechanism 26 to provide a substantially secure and/or substantially aligned connection between the muzzle accessory 36 and the barrel 8. The angle between the angled/tapered surface 139 and the longitudinal axis LA of the barrel 8 can vary, and in one example, can be less than about 45°, e.g., up to about 30° or up to about 35°, though any suitable angle, grade, or slope is possible without departing from the present disclosure, including angles greater than 45° and/or up to about 90°. The locking section or portion 138 further is not limited to this construction, however, and can include any shape, construction, and/or configuration that provides self-locking or self-aligning aspects, without departing from the present disclosure.

Additionally, as generally shown in FIGS. 2-11, the mounting and attachment assembly 2 also can include a movable protection mechanism 40 located along the muzzle end 20 b of the barrel body adjacent the connection mechanism 26. The protection mechanism 40 can be integrated with or otherwise movably connected to the barrel 8, and will be operable to move between a retracted or open position allowing access to the threads 28, and a closed, covering position so as to substantially cover and protect the connection mechanism 26 from damage when a muzzle accessory 36 is not connected to the barrel 8. The protection mechanism 40 can be biased (e.g., by one or more springs 42 or other suitable biasing mechanisms) towards its extended, forward or covering position 44 at least partially covering and protecting the connection mechanism 26 of the barrel (FIGS. 2, 6, 9, and 10), and can be movable toward its retracted, rearward position 46, at least partially exposing the connection mechanism 26 to facilitate or allow for attachment of the muzzle accessory 36 to the barrel 8 (FIGS. 3, 7, and 11), by pushing or urging the protection mechanism against the biasing force of the spring.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 3, 7, and 11, when the protection mechanism 40 is urged or moved in a rearward direction D1 under the force (or tension) of the one or more springs 42, the one or more threaded portions 28 can be at least partially revealed or can be exposed/uncovered so as to be accessible to accept the threads of the muzzle accessory 36. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 9, and 10, when the muzzle accessory 36 is removed from the barrel 8, the protection mechanism 40 may be returned in the forward direction D2 in response to the biasing force of the spring(s) 42 urging the protection mechanism toward its forward position 44 substantially concealing the muzzle threads 28.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 4, with a muzzle accessory 36 attached to the barrel 8, at least a portion of the protection mechanism 40, e.g. a forward face 48, may contact, abut against, or otherwise engage at least a portion (e.g., at least part of the rear portion 38 of the muzzle accessory 36). As a result, the spring force can be at least partially transmitted through the protection mechanism 40 to urge and press the protection mechanism 40 against the muzzle accessory 36 to provide a stressed or tensioned connection therebetween, for example, providing a force across the matably engaged muzzle threads and corresponding threads portions of the muzzle accessory to substantially preventing the accessory from becoming inadvertently unscrewed, loosened and/or detached during use of the firearm.

In one aspect, the protection mechanism 40 can include a sleeve 50 having a body 52 with a proximal or rearward end 52 a and a distal or forward end 52 b (FIGS. 2-15). The sleeve 50 further may have an internal passage 54 that is sized, dimensioned, or otherwise configured to at least partially receive the reduced diameter section 24 and/or other portion of the barrel 8. At least a portion of the passage 54 further will be sized, dimensioned, or otherwise configured to maintain a relatively close fit with the reduced diameter section 24 to help guard against dirt and other fouling elements passing and/or collecting between the sleeve's interior surface and the connection mechanism, while still allowing longitudinal, sliding movement of the sleeve 50 to expose, or cover, the connection mechanism 26 of the barrel, but without necessarily contacting or abrading against the threads of the connection mechanism. The sleeve body 52 may have a substantially continuous cylindrical shape as generally shown in FIG. 9. Though the sleeve 50 also can be formed with any suitable shape, construction and/or configuration, such as a rectangular, octagonal, polygonal or other shape, or combination thereof, however, without departing from the present disclosure. In one example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the sleeve 50 further can be manufactured to have the appearance of a firearm accessory. For example, the sleeve body 52 can include a series of slots or grooves 56 and/or projections 58 defined therealong that provide the sleeve with the appearance of a flash hider (FIGS. 10 and 11).

The sleeve body 52 additionally can incorporate a front sight 60 that can be formed/integrated therewith, or alternatively can be mountable to and/or detachable therefrom (FIGS. 2-7). The front sight 60 can have a body 62 that is generally shaped to facilitate aiming or aligning of the firearm F. The body 62 of the sight further can include a tab 64 or other suitable projection portion that is configured to be at least partially received within a corresponding, complementary notch or groove 66 defined along the sleeve body 52 to provide a frictional fit or snap fit connection therebetween. For example, the notch 66 can be defined within a protruding portion or projection 68 arranged on an upper portion of the sleeve 62. The front sight, however, can be integrally formed with the sleeve or otherwise permanently fixed thereto, without departing from the present disclosure.

Further still, the sleeve body 52 can include one or more holes or apertures 70 defined therein as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, 7, and 9. The hole(s) 70 may at least partially receive one or more fasteners 72, such as an alignment screw, that facilitate attachment of the sleeve 50 to the muzzle end of the barrel (FIGS. 6, 7, and 9). The hole(s) 70 can include a tapped hole or bore with a threaded portion(s) 74 configured to matably engage corresponding threaded portions 76 of fastener 72. The hole(s) 70 can be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA of the barrel (or the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis LA of the barrel) and preferably can be located at least partially along a portion of the sleeve that will be parallel to the ground when the firearm F is in use. In one example, the holes(s) 70 can be arranged along an upper portion of the sleeve 50 (FIGS. 6-7), and in another example, the hole(s) 70 can be arranged about a lower portion of the sleeve 50 (FIG. 9). The hole(s) 70 further may be positioned or concealed beneath the removable front sight 60 as generally shown in FIGS. 6-7.

The fastener 72 additionally can have an unthreaded section 78. With the fastener 72 at least partially received in the hole(s) 70, the unthreaded section 78 may at least partially extend from an opening 80 of the hole and be at least partially received within a slot or groove 82 defined along an exterior surface 84 of the reduced diameter section. In one example, the reduced diameter section 24 can include a pair of opposing longitudinal slots 82 that are arranged about top and bottom portions of the barrel as generally shown in FIGS. 6-7 and 9. The slots 82 can be substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis LA of the barrel 8, and can be positioned rearward of the muzzle threads 28 and annual shoulder 38. The slots 32 further can be positioned substantially proximate or substantially adjacent the shoulder 38. Alternatively, the barrel 8 can include just one longitudinal slot along the bottom or top of the barrel, though other suitable combinations of appropriate slots/grooves can be employed, without departing from the present disclosure.

In addition, the fastener 72 can further help substantially limit or otherwise regulate the travel of the sleeve 50 along the barrel and may prevent its inadvertent removal therefrom. For example, when the sleeve 50 is in the extended/forward, covering position 44, without a muzzle accessory 36 attached to the barrel 8, the unthreaded portion 78 of the fastener 72 may contact or otherwise engage a forward or distal portion 86 of the slot to prevent removal of the sleeve from the barrel. Also, with the muzzle accessory 36 attached to the barrel 8 and the sleeve 50 in the retracted rearward position 46, the unthreaded portion 78 of the fastener 72 can contact a rearward or proximal portion 88 of the slot to prevent over-stressing of the spring 42. Still further, the fastener 72 also may ensure the front sight is aligned with a rear sight of the firearm.

Turning to FIG. 5, it can be seen that the spring 42 can include one or more wave springs 90 or similar biasing elements. As shown in FIG. 5, the construction of the wave spring(s) 90 utilized with embodiments of the present disclosure generally can include a series of substantially flattened rings or segments 92 having a non-uniform, irregular body configuration or construction, as opposed to being substantially round, uniform sections of a drawn wire such as found with conventional coiled springs. The use of such flattened or wave springs 90 generally can help provide increased strength and deflection with a reduced spring size and also may provide a more compact arrangement. Each of the individual segments or rings 92 can be integrally formed or can be formed separately and attached via weld lines or other attachments at joints 94 to form a composite wave spring body 96 (FIG. 5). The wave spring body 96 further will define a passage or opening 98 therethrough, which passage will be configured/sized to be received over at least a portion of the reduced diameter section 26 of the barrel. The spring segments also can be clipped, bound, bonded or otherwise attached to each other, or can be hooked or otherwise interlocked together to form the resultant spring structure. In addition, a series of wave springs can be stacked to form a composite spring, and/or additional, similar biasing elements, also can be used without departing from the present disclosure. The disclosure further is not limited to wave springs, and conventional coil springs wound from a round wire, and/or other suitable biasing elements, such as Bellville washers, locking washers, curved disks, wave disk finger disks, elastomers (e.g., O-rings, etc.), and/or other mechanisms, devices, or materials, or combinations thereof may be employed without departing from this disclosure.

FIGS. 6-7 show that with the spring 42 received over the reduced diameter section 26, rearward portion 100 of the spring body 96 may engage a shoulder or face 102 substantially proximate the reduced diameter section 24, and forward portion 104 of the spring body 96 may contact or otherwise engage at least a portion (e.g., an internal shoulder or face 106 defined along the interior passage) of the sleeve 50. Accordingly, the spring body 96 may be received between the interior shoulder 106 of the sleeve 50 and the shoulder 100 of the barrel 8 in a sandwich-type arrangement to bias the sleeve 50 toward the forward, extended position 44 and to allow the sleeve 50 to be retracted to expose the threads.

The mounting system/assembly 2 further can include a locking geometry 110, including locking features, such as a series of teeth 112 or other suitable projections, arranged or positioned at least partially about the front/forward face 48 of the sleeve 50, as generally shown in FIG. 13. The locking geometry 110, e.g., in one embodiment shown as teeth or projections 112, can engage or interact with a corresponding locking geometry 114 positioned about the rear end 39 of the muzzle accessory, with the sleeve 50 in its forward position 44, to substantially prevent or retard loosening or disengagement of the attached muzzle accessory. For example, the teeth 112 of the sleeve can interlock or otherwise mesh with a series of corresponding teeth 116 positioned at least partially about the rear end 39 of the muzzle accessory, with adjacent teeth 112/116 contacting or otherwise engaging to substantially prevent rotation or other movement of the muzzle accessory. As a result, the sleeve generally has to be pulled or urged in the rearward direction D1 to disengage the teeth 112/116 and allow the muzzle accessory to be loosened and/or removed.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a muzzle brake 200 attached to the muzzle accessory and mounting system 2 with the sleeve 50 in the forward 44 (FIG. 15) and retracted 46 (FIG. 14) positions. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the muzzle brake 200 can include a connection mechanism 202, such as one or more threads 204, to facilitate connection or attachment of a silencer or other additional muzzle accessory thereto. The sleeve 50 may at least partially cover the connection mechanism 202 in its forward position 44 (FIG. 15). The muzzle brake 200 can be removably connected to the barrel 8 using the connection mechanism 26; however, the muzzle brake 200 also can be substantially integrally formed with, or otherwise fixed to, the barrel 8 without departing from the present disclosure.

For attaching a muzzle accessory to a firearm, a user can slidably urge or otherwise the sleeve 50, which can be coupled to or integrated with the barrel 8 of the host firearm, in the rearward direction D1 to its rearward, retracted position 46, overcoming the spring force biasing the sleeve to its forward, covering position 44, such that muzzle threads 28 or other connection mechanism for connecting a muzzle accessory to the firearm are at least partially uncovered or revealed and ready to accept corresponding threads or other connection mechanism of the muzzle accessory 36. Thereafter, the muzzle accessory 36 can be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the barrel 8 of the firearm, e.g., to be substantially coaxial therewith; and, with the sleeve at least partially retracted or moved rearward to enable access to the muzzle threads or other connection mechanism, can be matably engaged with the muzzle threads or other connection mechanism.

The sleeve can be held in its retracted position by a user, e.g., using their hand, or the muzzle accessory can be pressed against the sleeve, and the muzzle accessory 36 can be rotated, e.g., in a clockwise direction, to tighten and move the muzzle accessory against and along the barrel until at least a portion of a rear end 39 of the muzzle accessory 36 contacts or otherwise engages an annular shoulder 38 or self-aligning or self-locking surface 139 of the barrel substantially proximate the muzzle threads 28. Once the muzzle accessory is mounted on the muzzle of the barrel, the sleeve 50 can be released such that a forward face 48 thereof engages and presses against at least a portion of the rear end 39 of the muzzle accessory under force of the spring, to thereby generate a non-trivial stress across the muzzle threads and the corresponding threads of the muzzle accessory to substantially prevent loosening therebetween during operation of the firearm. To remove the muzzle accessory, the muzzle accessory may be rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and upon removal of the muzzle accessory the sleeve may be returned to a forward, covering position under force/tension of the spring to substantially conceal and substantially protect the muzzle threads. In the embodiment with a locking geometry 110, as shown in FIG. 13, the sleeve 50 generally will have to be slidably urged or moved at least partially in the rearward direction to disengage the corresponding locking geometries 110/114 to allow rotation, loosening and detachment of the muzzle accessory.

The foregoing description generally illustrates and describes various embodiments of the present invention. It will, however, be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the above-discussed construction of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed herein, and that it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as being illustrative, and not to be taken in a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure shall be construed to cover various modifications, combinations, additions, alterations, etc., above and to the above-described embodiments, which shall be considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, various features and characteristics of the present invention as discussed herein may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the invention, and numerous variations, modifications, and additions further can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A firearm, comprising: a receiver; a barrel including an elongated body having an internal bore defined therethrough, wherein a breech end of the barrel is attached to the receiver, and a muzzle end of the barrel includes a connection mechanism disposed therealong for connecting the barrel to a muzzle accessory; a protection mechanism including sleeve received over and movable along the muzzle end of the barrel, wherein the sleeve is dimensioned and/or configured to substantially cover the connection mechanism sufficient to enable the sleeve to move thereover, while substantially protecting the connection mechanism from engagement and entry of debris between the connection mechanism and the sleeve; and a biasing member coupled to the sleeve and configured to apply a force thereto so as to bias the sleeve toward an extended position covering the connection mechanism, while allowing the sleeve to move toward a retracted position upon overcoming the force applied by the biasing member, to at least partially expose the connection mechanism sufficient to enable engagement of the muzzle accessory therewith, wherein when the muzzle accessory is attached to the barrel, the biasing member urges at least a portion of the sleeve into engagement against a rear end portion of the muzzle accessory, such that the force applied by the biasing member is transmitted through the sleeve and against the muzzle accessory, so as to create at least a partially tensioned connection between the muzzle accessory and the connection mechanism of the barrel significant to substantially react from inadvertent loosening or disconnection of the muzzle accessory during firing of the firearm.
 2. The firearm of claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism includes one or more threaded portions configured to engage one or more corresponding threaded portions of the muzzle accessory for enabling attachment and/or detachment of the muzzle accessory and the barrel.
 3. The firearm of claim 1, wherein the firearm accessory includes a silencer, suppressor, flash hider, muzzle break, blast shield, or blast jacket.
 4. The firearm of claim 1, wherein the barrel further includes a shoulder portion that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the barrel, and is located substantially adjacent the connection mechanism in a position such that a rear end portion the muzzle accessory engages the shoulder when the muzzle accessory is connected to the barrel.
 5. The firearm of claim 1, wherein the barrel further comprises a locking section having a frustroconical or partial conical shape with one or more surfaces that are tapered or angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the barrel, wherein the one or more surfaces at least partially engage a portion of the muzzle accessory to facilitate self-locking or self-alignment of the muzzle accessory as the muzzle accessory is tightened against the connection mechanism to provide a substantially secure and/or substantially aligned connection between the muzzle accessory and the barrel.
 6. The firearm of claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises a front sight along an outer surface thereof, the front sight including having a body shaped to facilitate aiming of the firearm, and having a tab to be at least partially received within a corresponding, complementary notch defined along the outer surface of the sleeve.
 7. The firearm of claim 1, further comprising a fastener received along and projecting from a body of the sleeve, and wherein the barrel comprises a slot disposed therealong, in which at least a portion of the fastener projecting from the body of the sleeve is received.
 8. The firearm of claim 1, wherein the biasing member includes a wave spring at least partially received about the barrel.
 9. The firearm of claim 8, wherein the wave spring includes a series of substantially flattened segments having a non-uniform, irregular configuration, and attached in series to form a composite wave spring body, with a passage defined therethrough and sized to receive at least a portion of the barrel.
 10. An accessory mounting system for a firearm, comprising: a connection mechanism disposed along a muzzle end of a barrel of the firearm for connecting the barrel to a muzzle accessory; a protection mechanism including sleeve having a body engaged with the barrel and movable along the muzzle end of the barrel between an extended position at least partially covering the connection mechanism and a retracted position at least partially exposing the connection mechanism of the barrel; and a biasing member arranged along the barrel rearwardly of the muzzle end, the biasing member biasing the sleeve towards its extended position, while allowing the sleeve to move to the retracted position to accept the muzzle accessory, wherein when the sleeve is in its retracted position and the muzzle accessory is attached to the barrel, at least a portion of the sleeve is urged against the muzzle accessory to provide a tensioned connection between the muzzle accessory and the connection mechanism sufficient to substantially prevent the muzzle accessory from inadvertent loosening and/or disconnection during use of the firearm.
 11. The accessory mounting system of claim 10, wherein the connection mechanism includes threads configured to engage one or more corresponding threads of the muzzle accessory.
 12. The accessory mounting system of claim 10, wherein the firearm accessory includes a silencer, suppressor, flash hider, muzzle break, blast shield, or blast jacket.
 13. The accessory mounting system of claim 10, further comprising a sight integrated with the sleeve to facilitate aiming of the firearm.
 14. The accessory mounting system of claim 13, wherein the sight comprises a body having a tab that is configured to be at least partially received within a corresponding, complementary notch defined along the sleeve for removeably coupling the sight to the sleeve.
 15. The accessory mounting system of claim 10, wherein the biasing member includes a wave spring received about at least a portion of the barrel.
 16. The accessory mounting system of claim 15, wherein the wave spring includes a series of substantially flattened segments having a substantially non-uniform construction, and wherein the wave spring body includes a passage defined therethrough that is sized to receive the muzzle end of the barrel.
 17. The accessory mounting system of claim 10, further comprising locking features arranged about a forward face of the sleeve and configured to engage with corresponding locking features positioned about a rear end of the muzzle accessory to substantially retard disengagement of the muzzle accessory from the barrel.
 18. A method for attaching a muzzle accessory to a barrel of a firearm, comprising: moving a sleeve along a portion of the barrel of the firearm in a rearward direction toward a retracted position, to expose a connection mechanism of the barrel for connecting a muzzle accessory to the barrel of the firearm; aligning the muzzle accessory with the connection mechanism of the barrel of the firearm, and engaging the connection mechanism of the barrel with a corresponding connection mechanism of the muzzle accessory; maintaining the sleeve in the retracted position and rotating the muzzle accessory to tighten the muzzle accessory against the connection mechanism of the barrel until at least a portion of the muzzle accessory engages a locking surface of the barrel; and releasing the sleeve such that a forward face thereof is urged into biased engagement with and presses against at least a portion of the rear end of the muzzle accessory sufficient to generate a non-trivial stress between the connection mechanisms of the barrel and the muzzle accessory that substantially resists loosening of the engagement between the muzzle accessory and the barrel of the firearm during operation of the firearm. 